CJP forms new JIT to probe claims of Zainab's killer holding 37 bank accounts

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Sunday formed a new joint investigation team to probe the rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab in Kasur.

The apex court formed the JIT, headed by FIA director general, to probe the incident in light of the claims of anchor Dr Shahid Masood that the suspected killer of Zainab was a part of an international child pornography ring and operated 37 foreign currency accounts.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing the case at the apex court’s Lahore registry.

The chief justice observed the onus was on the anchor to corroborate his claims and warned that the court may issue directives for placing his name on the ECL.

He said the claims made by the anchor were of serious nature and asked him to present evidence to prove them.

On this, Masood said he stood by his claims without giving any proof to substantiate them. He alleged police officer were protecting the culprits.

The chief justice castigated him for raising objections to the police officers part of the JIT constituted by the court.

“Will you tell the court how an investigation is carried out,” he snapped, adding, “don’t talk about investigation, give us proof about bank accounts.”

He warned that if Masood’s claims proved wrong, the court would initiate contempt of court proceedings against him.

The anchor would also face action under Article 79 of the Constitutions, he continued.

However, senior journalists who were present in the court requested the chief justice to pardon the anchor, if his claims were proved wrong.

Zainab’s father barred from speaking to media

Meanwhile, the apex court restrained Zainab’s father, Amin Ansari, and his lawyer from speaking to the press. It asked him to cooperate with the police investigating the rape and murder of his daughter.

He requested that the killer of his daughter should be given exemplary punishment so that such crime should not be committed ever again.

A number of television anchors appeared today to assist the court in the wake of anchor Dr Shahid Masood’s claims, which were denied by the State Bank of Pakistan and the Joint Investigation Team formed to probe Zainab murder case.

CJP orders more security for Zainab’s killer

The bench directed the police to provide security to family members of Zainab. It also summoned record of the relevant DSP and two station house officers of Kasur.

The apex court directed the police to complete investigation into the rape-murder case at the earliest and submit charge-sheet in the relevant court.

It also directed the police to beef up security of the suspect.

Dr Masood’s claims

In his television programme on January 24, anchor Dr Shahid Masood claimed that Imran Ali, the suspected killer of Zainab, apart from operating foreign currency accounts, was a part of an international child pornography ring.

He said the suspect maintained 37 bank accounts in foreign currency and enjoyed the backing of a powerful political figure.

His startling claims added a new twist to the Zainab case, prompting the chief justice to summon him to provide details so that an investigation could be carried into the matter.

Following the court order, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the JIT investigated his claims and found that the suspect held no bank account, neither was any an international racket of the child pornography business behind him.